USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Site Notification

Site Notification

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Table 4. Shipment Characteristics by Mode of Transportation and Shipment Size for Metropolitan Area of Origin: 2007

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Table 4. Shipment Characteristics by Mode of Transportation and Shipment Size for Metropolitan Area of Origin: 2007

Estimates are based on data from the 2007 Commodity Flow Survey. Because of rounding, estimates may not be additive.

Excel | CSV

All Modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 21,400 100 13,106 100 2,923 100 449 11.4 - 19.9 - 12.6 - 18.5
Less than 50 lbs 1,004 4.7 34 0.3 17 0.6 497 12.2 0.9 12.8 0.2 16.3 0.2 22.9
50 - 99 lbs 394 1.8 36 0.3 13 0.4 351 14.6 0.5 14.4 0.1 18.3 0.1 24.2
100 - 499 lbs 1,808 8.4 163 1.2 64 2.2 367 16.9 1.1 12.6 0.6 20.3 0.6 22.7
500 - 749 lbs 398 1.9 47 0.4 22 0.8 499 22.4 0.4 16.4 0.1 25.1 0.3 21.6
750 - 999 lbs 358 1.7 32 0.2 21 0.7 643 27.6 0.6 19.1 0.1 27.2 0.2 14.2
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 4,330 20.2 881 6.7 496 17.0 574 17.6 3.7 12.5 2.4 21.5 3.7 11.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 8,883 41.5 7,222 55.1 1,779 60.9 296 11.6 3.5 16.1 6.5 12.0 4.1 20.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 691 3.2 1,000 7.6 48 1.7 S 40.3 1.1 39.4 3.9 43.1 0.6 S
More than 100,000 lbs S S 3,691 28.2 S S 503 S S 49.8 7.5 S S 26.0

Single modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 18,119 100 12,690 100 2,308 100 213 13.2 - 20.9 - 12.1 - 24.6
Less than 50 lbs 385 2.1 20 0.2 2 0.1 121 15.0 0.5 17.2 0.1 26.5 - 46.4
50 - 99 lbs 241 1.3 26 0.2 2 0.1 93 17.1 0.3 20.6 0.1 22.9 - 33.6
100 - 499 lbs 1,258 6.9 128 1.0 37 1.6 249 19.0 0.9 16.3 0.3 21.7 0.3 26.4
500 - 749 lbs 305 1.7 42 0.3 20 0.9 499 20.4 0.4 17.4 0.1 28.6 0.3 24.9
750 - 999 lbs 344 1.9 31 0.2 19 0.8 616 26.7 0.8 20.1 0.1 30.3 0.2 17.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 4,236 23.4 864 6.8 484 21.0 571 17.9 4.0 12.5 2.4 22.0 3.4 12.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 7,807 43.1 7,021 55.3 1,443 62.5 266 14.3 4.0 17.1 6.7 12.4 3.2 20.4
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 688 3.8 998 7.9 47 2.1 S 40.5 1.8 39.5 4.7 44.1 1.3 S
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S 252 10.9 324 S S S S 43.8 3.4 33.6

Truck4

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 15,250 100 9,983 100 2,106 100 205 11.1 - 16.9 - 12.4 - 25.4
Less than 50 lbs 378 2.5 20 0.2 2 0.1 118 15.8 0.6 17.4 0.1 25.8 - 46.6
50 - 99 lbs 237 1.6 26 0.3 2 0.1 89 17.6 0.3 20.8 0.1 22.8 - 33.3
100 - 499 lbs 1,171 7.7 126 1.3 34 1.6 224 18.8 1.4 16.5 0.4 22.6 0.3 28.2
500 - 749 lbs 304 2.0 42 0.4 20 0.9 497 20.4 0.4 17.5 0.1 28.8 0.4 25.0
750 - 999 lbs 344 2.3 31 0.3 19 0.9 616 26.7 1.0 20.1 0.1 30.3 0.2 17.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 4,233 27.8 863 8.6 484 23.0 571 18.0 3.4 12.5 2.2 22.0 3.3 12.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 7,752 50.8 6,984 70.0 1,414 67.1 264 14.6 3.6 17.3 5.3 13.0 4.0 20.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 687 4.5 997 10.0 46 2.2 43 40.5 1.8 39.6 4.8 46.2 1.4 30.8
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 347 S S S S S S 38.1

For-hire truck

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 12,132 100 3,913 100 1,951 100 798 13.6 - 21.5 - 13.3 - 11.8
Less than 50 lbs 122 1.0 3 0.1 2 0.1 606 27.0 0.5 42.9 0.1 28.4 - 31.1
50 - 99 lbs 87 0.7 3 0.1 2 0.1 620 28.7 0.2 37.3 0.1 28.2 - 21.4
100 - 499 lbs 603 5.0 31 0.8 32 1.6 978 28.0 0.8 21.5 0.3 24.2 0.4 9.6
500 - 749 lbs 208 1.7 16 0.4 19 1.0 1,270 30.7 0.4 26.4 0.2 29.5 0.4 10.3
750 - 999 lbs 282 2.3 19 0.5 19 1.0 1,026 34.4 1.5 29.0 0.2 30.8 0.2 11.8
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 3,487 28.7 497 12.7 469 24.0 1,059 22.1 3.7 17.5 3.5 22.7 3.7 6.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 6,623 54.6 2,300 58.8 1,282 65.7 640 16.4 4.1 15.7 5.0 14.7 4.2 16.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 637 5.2 898 23.0 44 2.3 S 40.1 3.0 41.2 6.4 45.9 1.9 S
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 742 S S S S S S 31.8

Private truck

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 3,118 100 6,070 100 155 100 17 13.6 - 27.2 - 19.5 - 10.5
Less than 50 lbs 256 8.2 17 0.3 - 0.1 12 20.1 2.0 21.3 0.5 18.4 0.3 11.4
50 - 99 lbs 150 4.8 23 0.4 - 0.2 15 24.0 1.1 25.5 0.3 27.8 0.2 14.9
100 - 499 lbs 568 18.2 95 1.6 2 1.1 16 34.1 3.5 24.2 1.7 29.1 1.0 8.8
500 - 749 lbs 95 3.1 27 0.4 1 0.4 24 25.9 0.8 22.4 0.3 32.1 0.4 15.3
750 - 999 lbs 62 2.0 13 0.2 - 0.2 29 36.4 0.7 17.9 0.3 25.9 0.2 17.8
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 746 23.9 366 6.0 15 9.8 39 20.9 3.5 14.6 4.3 47.5 6.1 23.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 1,129 36.2 4,684 77.2 132 85.4 S 21.0 5.1 25.6 6.3 22.6 6.8 S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 98 1.6 S S 20 S S 36.3 0.9 S S 35.3
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

Rail

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 659 100 399 100 191 100 597 49.1 - 35.2 - 33.4 - 18.8
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S 29 15.2 800 S S S S 37.4 19.3 0.8
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 590 89.5 359 90.0 159 83.5 454 49.8 3.3 34.5 3.8 32.2 5.3 33.1

Water

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Shallow draft

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Air (incl truck and air)

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 89 100 1 100 S S 1,819 47.6 - 33.9 - S S 17.6
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S 892 S S S S S S 20.5
50 - 99 lbs 4 4.6 - 8.2 - 3.2 954 43.6 6.4 49.6 7.2 46.7 9.9 20.8
100 - 499 lbs S S 1 72.6 S S 3,022 S S 46.8 11.7 S S 21.0
500 - 749 lbs 1 1.0 - 6.9 - 2.9 1,070 33.1 5.5 35.4 19.2 49.3 19.3 22.5
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - 0.3 S S S S 840 9.1 12.5 S S S S 2.6
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pipeline5

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

Multiple modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 3,094 100 368 100 602 100 1,202 28.8 - 38.8 - 39.7 - 6.9
Less than 50 lbs 587 19.0 12 3.2 15 2.5 1,210 13.9 4.6 16.0 3.7 17.7 4.1 7.4
50 - 99 lbs 150 4.9 8 2.2 10 1.7 1,221 19.8 2.5 13.8 2.0 17.6 2.5 10.7
100 - 499 lbs 520 16.8 24 6.5 26 4.4 1,121 21.2 6.2 17.2 6.8 21.6 8.0 5.7
500 - 749 lbs 90 2.9 S S 2 0.4 597 49.6 1.8 S S 43.1 0.6 44.3
750 - 999 lbs S S 1 0.2 1 0.2 1,670 S S 18.3 1.0 6.7 1.9 26.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,944 S S S S S S 23.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,763 S S S S S S 14.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs S S 132 36.0 S S 1,588 S S 40.7 17.6 S S 20.3

Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 1,357 100 48 100 55 100 1,198 13.8 - 15.2 - 16.7 - 7.0
Less than 50 lbs 587 43.2 12 24.4 15 27.0 1,210 13.9 4.0 16.0 3.7 17.7 3.8 7.4
50 - 99 lbs 150 11.1 8 16.9 10 18.4 1,221 19.8 2.0 13.8 1.9 17.6 2.8 10.7
100 - 499 lbs 520 38.3 24 49.3 26 47.9 1,120 21.2 3.9 17.2 3.0 21.7 3.6 5.7
500 - 749 lbs 90 6.6 S S 2 4.3 597 49.6 2.2 S S 43.1 1.9 44.3
750 - 999 lbs S S 1 1.7 1 2.5 1,670 S S 18.3 4.3 6.7 7.9 26.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Truck and rail

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 1,735 100 320 100 545 100 1,763 43.8 - 41.7 - 41.2 - 14.0
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - 1,556 40.2 0.6 5.1 0.2 18.5 0.4 10.2
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,944 S S S S S S 23.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,741 S S S S S S 15.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs S S 132 41.4 S S 1,588 S S 40.7 19.2 S S 20.3

Truck and water

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Other and unknown modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment		 Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)		 Percent of total 2007
(thousands)		 Percent of total 2007
(millions)		 Percent of
total		 CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 187 100 48 100 S S S 23.7 - 22.1 - S S S
Less than 50 lbs 32 17.2 3 5.7 S S 9 47.6 4.2 43.4 2.5 S S 43.3
50 - 99 lbs 2 1.1 S S S S S 29.1 0.6 S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs S S - 0.3 S S S S S 46.8 1.1 S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 83 44.2 14 30.1 S S 364 37.8 9.5 41.0 8.0 S S 43.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 32 17.1 17 35.4 S S S 48.9 12.1 19.7 13.0 S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

KEY: S = Estimate does not meet publication standards because of high sampling variability or poor response quality. - = Zero or Less than half the unit shown; thus, it has been rounded to zero.

1 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) geographic areas were drawn from a subset of Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs) and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MeSAs) as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). However, CFS metropolitan areas are divided into their state parts when they include more than one state. In addition, the CFS also utilizes a unique geography referred to as, "remainder of state," to represent those areas of a state not contained within a separately published metropolitan area for the CFS (as opposed to not part of any Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) as defined by OMB). Because of the differences in the CFS geography, as compared to OMB defined geography, caution should be exercised when comparing CFS estimates to other estimates of similar geography.
2 Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network.
3 Coefficient of Variation.
4 ""Truck"" as a single mode includes any shipment that was made by private truck only, by for-hire truck only, or by a combination of private and for-hire truck.
5 Estimates for pipeline exclude shipments of crude petroleum.

NOTES: Value-of-shipment estimates are reported in current prices. Estimated measures of sampling variability for each estimate known as coefficients of variation (CV) are also provided in these tables. More information on sampling error, confidentiality protection, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions may be found at http://www.bts.gov/publications/commodity_flow_survey/
Rows are not shown if all cells for that particular mode have no data. For example, since Denver-Aurora-Boulder by "Water" has no data for any shipment weight group, the entire mode of "Water" for that area was removed from this table. However, if a mode has at least one row of data for one of the shipment weight groups, then the entire mode is shown even though there may be rows absent of data within that mode. For example, Denver-Aurora-Boulder by "Other and unknown modes" has a row absent of data for the shipment size of "More than 100,000 lbs" but does have data for the other shipment weight groups under that mode so it will be shown in its entirety.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 Economic Census: Transportation Commodity Flow Survey, December 2009.